Normalcy slowly is returning.

Well, there are six boxes left to unpack and two of those will likely be repacked and stuck into a closet since they hold old files that I've got to hold on for a tad bit longer. Most of the furniture is finally in a good position (for now) and the kitchen has finally been fully tested (meaning the ovens, dishwasher, stove, and microwave have all been used extensively). My desktop is up and running which means I now have access to the 5 CDs that my iTunes library didn't sync to the external hard drive AND I can finally keep my laptop in a Linux environment for testing and development of some work-related software.

I am also in the weekly routine of lawn maintenance although I did come to the realization that if/when fall actually arrives here in the Hub City, I will be buried under a large biomass of leaves. A LOT of leaves. So many that it may call for blowing all the glucose-rich clorophill dormant detrius into the street before a blue norther comes through allowing mother nature to relocate the leaves down the street and possibly all the way to the Big Bend. And then there is the other weekly task of laundry which I think I have nailed down to the day when I will need to get various loads of whites, colors, permanent press, or blue jeans sorted and started to ensure I'll have enough clothes for work.

Speaking of work, the "normal" rounds of shifts continue although I still have a problem wrapping my head around the fact the graveyard shift comes around roughly once every 30 days vs. once every 20 days AND we work 8 in a row vs. 4 or 5 at the old shop. I also miss having a month with weekends off. Is it worth working 8 days of graveyards every 30 days vs working 4 or 5 every 20? I can't tell yet. This is only the second set of mids I've had to work on this new rotation and I'm not quite sure my body has fully adjusted. Add in the fact that cotton harvest is coming around (meaning I'll probably return to my annual fall sinus infection here soon) and my body will likely be thrown for quite a loop with allergies and shift work combined. That and I still refuse to take anything unless I'm absolutely tuckered out...

There are only a couple of things that are keeping the old "normalcy" from up north returning. The first is that I still have to get my guitars back from a fellow musician (a HUGE thanks D) who was gracious enough to let me place my instruments under his care only for a fee of being able to use them. Once I get those back, I can start work on getting the callouses back on my fingertips (amazing how fast they disappear when one doesn't play daily) and start learning new matierial. Next is that we've got a good feeling about the church we are going to down here and although it isn't the one that I left 5 years ago, I have a couple of co-workers and a friend that goes there which has helped ease the transition into a new body of believers. Once I/we get plugged into a small group that should open the doors for new ministry opportunities down here. And last but not least; the one that I'm extremely happy is keeping my old "normalcy" from returning. The, well, significant other (see the previous post) is also getting settled into life here in the Hub City and we've been able to spend quite a bit of time together. I'll take that over spending evenings sitting around the house alone any day.

Yup, things are going well so far out here.